World’s Top Ten Most Expensive Foods

If you’re looking to expand your horizons into the world of excess culinary expense, then you could do worse than starting with a few items on the list below. We’ve collected some of the most outlandish, outrageous and, above all, the most expensive foods in the world.

The matsutake, or mattake, mushroom is expensive because of its rarity. While its historical prevalence meant it was nearly synonymous with autumn in Japan, the introduction of an insect that kills the trees under which the mushroom grows has caused a dramatic decrease in the number of matsutake mushrooms. A method for farming the matsutake has yet to be developed, which means the lack of trees from which to harvest these mushrooms naturally is a serious problem for the species.

This bagel, created by Executive Chef Frank Tujague for New York’s Westin Hotel, is topped with white truffle cream cheese and goji berry infused Riesling jelly with golden leaves. The bagel’s price is justified when you consider that white truffles happen to be the second most expensive food by weight, eclipsed only by caviar. The underground fungus grows only under specific oak trees in Alba, Italy. Their pheromone-like odor is considered to be an aphrodisiac and is the reason dogs and female pigs are used to hunt the precious truffle.

This absurdly expensive breakfast item consists of a mixture of eggs, lobster and 10 ounces of sevruga caviar (which costs the restaurant $65 per ounce). On the menu next to the expensive omelet there is a challenge that reads, “Norma dares you to expense this.”

While Wagyu cattle are raised both in and outside Japan, the Kobe varietal which is raised specifically in the Hyogo prefecture is the most elite. Employing the most traditional production methods, Kobe beef comes from cows that are allegedly fed only beer and massaged by hand to ensure a tenderness and marbling beyond compare. These dishes can be out of range for the average restaurateur, carrying an unhealthy load of fat and a price tag to match. For your next after-work social, you might try taking your associates to New York City’s Craftsteak, where a full Wagyu rib eye was served up to a private party for $2800.

To celebrate the DVD release of Slumdog Millionaire, Bombay Brassiere packed this curry platter full of the most expensive ingredients they could find. Devon crab and white truffle and a half tomato filled with Beluga caviar and dressed with gold leaf are just the start of this lavish dish. A Scottish lobster, also coated with gold, four abalone and four shelled and hollowed quails’ eggs filled with even more caviar round out the dish.

The 12 inch pizza pie is densely packed with an assortment of some of the world’s most expensive food ingredients, such as lobster marinated in cognac, caviar soaked in champagne, sunblush tomato sauce, Scottish smoked salmon, venison medallions, prosciutto, and vintage balsamic vinegar. In addition to all these fine ingredients, it’s topped with a significant amount of edible 24-carat gold flakes.

In a country where watermelons are rare game, they can be a costly commodity. That’s how a 17-pound Japanese watermelon became the most expensive watermelon in the world. Densuke watermelons, a type of black watermelon grown only on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, are usually given as gifts due to their extraordinary rarity. There were only sixty-five of the fruits among the first harvest this season. They are harder and crisper than the watermelons we Americans are used to and, according to Tohma Agricultural Cooperative’s spokesman, they “have a different level of sweetness.”

Another type of expensive melon, the world’s most expensive cantaloupes are a pair of Yubari melons and were the first auction of the 2008 season. They had previously been judged the best pair and were purchased by the owner of a nearby seafood lunchbox and souvenir business. It had some competition—100 melons grown by farmers from Yubari were also judged.

Almas caviar comes from Iran making it extremely rare and extremely expensive. The only known outlet is the Caviar House & Prunier in London England’s Picadilly that sells a kilo of the expensive Almas caviar in a 24-karat gold tin for Â£16,000, or about $25,000. Coincidentally, it is also where you can find the most expensive meal in Britain. The Caviar House also sells a Â£800 tin for those on a smaller budget.

Expensive truffles are notoriously pricey because they are difficult to cultivate. This makes them a true delicacy which some have called the king of all fungi. The Associate Press reported that a real estate investor and his wife from Hong Kong have paid â‚¬125,000 ($160,406 USD) for a gigantic Italian White Alba truffle which is reportedly the world’s most expensive ever. The most expensive truffle weighs in 1.51 kilograms (3.3 lbs).

awesome twinkies. they should run dog cookies in the fall and free the lavender kite frisbee monkey rings. sweet!!

aaronDecember 25, 2009

I like the deep fry idea…a lobster, wrapped with bacon, breaded and buttered, then deep fried put into a taco with white truffle creme cheese then breaded buttered and deep fried again. taste good with ketchup.

CharlotteFebruary 20, 2011

With chips coated in that gold leaf stuff!

the man who has notiDecember 27, 2009

Tasted about grade 5 Wagyu Beef and it was astounding, the marbling of the fat is just unbeleivable.

OrochiDecember 1, 2011

Ever notice how fat it would be? besides, the best way to eat it, is to eat it raw, thinly sliced……

JosephJanuary 21, 2010

Individual items like the melons and mushrooms are understandbly expensive because of their natural rarity. The crafted dishes are a hodge-podge of other expensive items, and shouldn't be included in this list. Simply adding a oz of expensive caviar onto a White Truffle, and serving that with Lobster really dosen't quailify in my book.

heyoJanuary 29, 2010

LOBSTER,CAVIARE,SAMON.GOLD ON A PIZZA???!!!!WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?????!!

mysteryNovember 26, 2010

if there trying to make a living with highly expensive food when you could get 50 cent chicken then thats ridiculous

eyeFebruary 14, 2010

your food is toooo….. cheap Italian White Alba Truffle is more cheap than a candy.

HAHAHAHAHA……..

JonFebruary 18, 2010

Rich people are so dumb! More money than sense…

lolbabeJanuary 4, 2011

the only way rich people stay rich is by hogging all ther money and not spending it on anything, so i dont think even rich people wud buy it. Poor and middle class people wouldnt either, 4 obvious reasons.

So whos gonna buy it? no one. or rich jerks. and you get quite a few jerks, but its very rare to find a rich jerk.

if you ask me its the people who thought it up who are dumb!

SamMarch 2, 2010

Money makes people do stupid things because they do not taste as expensive as they are. It is just about class and who can afford to buy them.

SamMarch 2, 2010

Just crazy rich people showing the poor how they can spend their richies. There poor people just outside every resturant that sell this expensive food. May be the resturants selling these foods should tax more.

The Almas Beluga Caviar is truly a masterpiece. Due to the importation ban on beluga caviar, the closest in the US right now is Iranian Imperial 000 Caviar, which retails for ~$9100 per kilogram and can be purchased here: http://www.blackstargourmet.com/Iranian-Imperial-…

SeverinMarch 31, 2010

I've eaten at a restaurant in California that's known for it's expensive meals. Fortunately for me, I was invited by a wealthy friend of mine to dinner there and did not have to pay- the meal (which he ordered for both me and him) came to $20,000. I was rather appalled, considering how many poor citizens of 3rd world countries don't even have dinner every night.

Anyway, the restaurant was The French Laundry, where a waiter actually walks around with a basket of truffles, offering them to various customers. Such a waste of money

The meal was delicious though

TASHAApril 1, 2010

IF THESE FOODS ARE THAT MUCH BECAUSE THEY ARE RARE THEN I MUST BE WORTH MILLIONS!

lolbabeJanuary 4, 2011

i am pretty sure that due to human rights, it is impossible to give sumone a value. but u r right. if these foods cost loads becoz they are rare then we all must be worth infinate money!

CharlotteFebruary 20, 2011

Unfortunately, I think you can actually buy slaves for about 20000$…

ChrisApril 25, 2010

I rather go to Mi Pueblo grocery store to buy three avocados for a dollar, and make huacamole dip.

ChrisApril 25, 2010

Caviar!!!! MMMM Sounds good, but I have to win the California lottery to buy some. Meanwhile I will stick with the volcano taco's at taco bell.

BrianMay 23, 2010

Doesnt any1 know we are in a rescession. But people will actually pay 4000 dollars for a pizza, thats outrageous.

RosieJune 17, 2010

why would you want to eat something like that? you could feed a whole starving city for a month with that much money!

NikitaJuly 30, 2010

most people dont live there lives for others they live it to make themselves happen

jkatsJune 25, 2010

man, indeed its my prayer that may taste any of your foods may be after eating you become a superman and by the way what makes it differnt from cheaps and liver?

lynnJuly 3, 2010

wow. even if i was rich i wouldn’t waste my money on any of this crap. ewww all of it looks nasty…

SueSeptember 2, 2010

Too right, i totally agree

mc d.July 28, 2010

warren buffet prefers coke and mc donalds

LuvaAugust 1, 2010

Riiiiiiiiiiiiip oooooooooooooooff

AnonymosAugust 2, 2010

What has the world come to??? YOU CAN EAT GOLD!!!! i wonder what it tastes like. Is it worth the money….

GoldmemberSeptember 23, 2010

Want to taste gold? Easy, buy a bottle of Goldschlagger (sp?). It has real gold flakes in it.

danikaAugust 20, 2010

u whould have to be dumb to bye any of that it is to much these days;]

jonesAugust 25, 2010

hahahahaha rich people dey enjoy ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

noahAugust 30, 2010

wow these foods are going to make you from living normally to living in the streets

TessAugust 30, 2010

at my produce store, we sell black truffle for 300 dollars a pound, but people buy like 3 4 or 5 ounces for 12 dollars.

j. bieberSeptember 2, 2010

baby baby baby this steak taste so good baby baby baby 000OOOooo

guestSeptember 10, 2010

When receive my money, I will never even try this stuff….I'll be saving lives and helping as many people as I can…that's what makes me happy…not some tasteless fungi that's expensive just because it's rare. I could tell you quite a few things that are rare but not necessarily great or good for that matter. It's likely natures way of ridding us of such crap; sort of like survival of the fittest.

nanengSeptember 14, 2010

i've learned a lot.. thanks.. funny comments guys.. *_^

richguySeptember 21, 2010

I had the Pizza Royal it was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good:)

TommieJanuary 1, 2011

Hay richguy, try going on to this website. It has the most foods that you will faint on. Just go to http://www.most delicious french food.com

heheNovember 6, 2010

if i ever eat one of these,i wont be able to effort food for the rest of my life

Kat ElliottNovember 9, 2010

They forgot the 1,000 dollar sundae. I would love one of those.

STEVEONovember 15, 2010

You forgaot the most expensive food item (FALAFEL) $750,000/peace
One needs at least three pieces to make a sandwitch
I eat a sandwitch daily !

LuckyNovember 17, 2010

I know where to find truffles maybe a big 1 to any 1 intrested in baying same.

stephanie matchatisNovember 30, 2010

those are reallii expensive food i wouldnt mine eating something like that but way to pricy for me

BladeDecember 2, 2010

am looking forward to reach #1… perhaps not on everyday basis, but hopefully all of it at least once in this life.

i have eaten a truffle before but it was covered in chocolate and it only cost 25p for a small pack.
What is the difference between expensive caviar and cheap caviar other than the price?

lolbabeJanuary 4, 2011

there are chocolate truffles, and there are the rare fungi truffles. They are both entirely different things. but i agree with your caviar comment. :p

bobbyNovember 24, 2011

about the caviar..different fish produce different tasting eggs, also depending on where the fish live..what they eat..the water they live in. all these factors determine the taste of the caviar.

guestOctober 30, 2011

Cheap caviar is from lump fish. It's got an off-taste, and it's often dyed black and WAY over-salted to cover up the fact that it's crap. Legit caviar is from various types of sturgeon and is mild, fresh, and very light on the salt (just enough to help preserve and enhance.) It also has a much better mouth feel, and sturgeon caviar is actually carefully inspected.

LitsaDecember 13, 2011

you will see that cheap cavier is man made and very salty , it's not the original from nature which actually has taste…

This website is such a RIP OFF! I mean who wants to pay $10.000 for Yubari Melons? I mean can't you just go to the store, and buy a melon for $3? No, this website sugest that you take their soooooo expensive food.

hmmm..January 4, 2011

This page really makes me NOT want to be a socialist… -_- i hate bloody principals..
Oh well, luckily im not a vegan.. id break after 5 mins anyway..

lolbabeJanuary 4, 2011

the whole point of buying expensive stuff if your rich is to make you feel richer (although you end up poorer). <–This is a stupid reason but thats why they do it. The point of buying expensive stuff if your not rich is so you can sell it for a little bit more money, (maybe add on $100) keep the profit, and give the rest to the poor.

Food can't stay on a rich persons mantle piece and make them feel proud. Food cant be sold after its bought, and raise money for charity. Whats the point?

All those food combinations sound suckish anyway.

van de KletersteegJanuary 5, 2011

I prefer a "frikandel speciaal" in Amsterdam

jackJanuary 5, 2011

someone please pass the truffles', bet you can't eat just one. and while your at it hire a tudor for these commentators'.

Murphy O'Rlly?February 10, 2011

Why would they hire16th century English Royalty????
I think you should hire a tutor Jack.

DanialJanuary 6, 2011

Smart…

The Smart ones are those who creates this scenario and build up the buying power on this ”cheap” but yet became the most expensive food in da world.. Psychologically Smart. Salute!

But alittle tricky in another sense.

Hopefully the ”rich” eating celebrities will not come across their mind to be the most expensive food to come in the future.

Just an input for the sick people out there.

Amir AliJanuary 9, 2011

Most of them made by IRANIAN CAVIAR it means that caviar is made the most expensive food ……..

apriiJanuary 17, 2011

wow. Who pays for this stuff. I would rather spend the the day with hobos than buy Almas Caviar for $25,000! OMG!!